Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We're having a bad snake week! We separated the 3 male red sideds from Ginger when she was delivering the slugs the other night. Yesterday morning I found Buddy - one of the 8 month old babies - stuck at the top of the cage trying to get out. He seemed fine and had no apparent injuries. His head was not stuck. Last night he was very "jumpy". He keeps trying to push against the glass and then gets startled. He seems to startle all the time. We have an appointment with the vet for tomorrow. He has been fed almost exclusively on Pinkies except for a rare Rosy red and some earthworms his first few weeks of life.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Joanna

I'm not really clear on what is making you think your snake is sick other than trying to escape from his cage and being "jumpy"?
Is the jumpiness so extreme that he seems to have some kind of neuroligical thing going on? Sounds like you keep your snakes together. My first thought is that you may want to give each one its own cage. If that is just not going to happen...I would suggest that you separate the one that seems to be having problems for two reasons:

1. He may just be stressed out. Having to compete for space can be stressful for many snakes. They have only a few ways of showing this, such as not eating, puking, trying to escape, or acting agitated (jumpy?) in general.

2. If there is something else wrong with him, you want him away from your others. If he is physically ill, the others may already be exposed, but better late than never. Such health issues are the #1 reason for giving each snake its own cage.

Good luck. Duffy

I was worried that he had something neurologically wrong with him. He demonstrated an exagerated startle response and his movements were rather jerky. I realize that this could have been just stress from having his enviroment changed. (He and my other 2 males were moved from their usual cage after our female garter delivered slugs). We have had him since birth and he has been through a few cage changes without exhibiting any such behaviour. He had also been "stuck" after he tried tried to escape and while he showed no signs of any injury I could not be sure he had not hurt his head before I found him. I also didn't know if snakes get parasites that can invade brain tissue - humans do! His behaviour got worse and so we had him examined by a vet. He was actually snapping (something he has never done). I wasn't there but it seems that with some firm handling he calmed down and was his usual self. He also had one pupil that did not react to light as well as the other. The diagnosis was that he was stressed and was "acting manly" but that maybe he had had a brain injury. She gave him a steroid shot to decrease any brain swelling or inflammation in case that's what happened. He may also not see well and so the change was more streaaful for him.

He has since improved dramatically and ate normally today. His movements are normal but I have not checked the pupils again to see if his normal is to have different pupillary responses. I will at some point.

I completely understand the arguments for keeping snakes housed separately. They are valid arguments. I believe that garters are social animals and benefit from being with other snakes. I am willing to take the risks of disease being spread because I think being with other snakes is better for them. My snakes that are housed together eat well and seem "stress free".

Thanks for your reply. I was rather discourage that no one responded.

Joanna